Assig-nob of one-half to j



PATENTE'D FEB. 16, 1904l J. P. BEARDSLEE. VENDING MACHINE.

PATBNTBD BBB. 16, 1904,

No.A 752,322.

Ja P. BEARDSLEE. VENDING MACHINE. LPPLIcATIoN VFILED MPT. 2z, 1A9ua.

.H0 MODEL.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3r UNIT-En STATES Patented February 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFiCE. d

JOHN RABEARDSLEE, OF TAMA, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO J. M.

VRIGHT, OF TAMA, IOWA.l l v Y VENDING-mAoHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming* part Of Letters Patent N0. 752,322, dated. February 16, 1904. Application lil-ed September 22,1903. Serial No. 174,224. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. BnARDsLEE, a citizen of the-United States, residing at Tama, in the county of Tama and State of Iowa, havel invented certain new and useful Improvements' in Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to mechanism for automatically vending small goods-such as peanuts, candies,and the like-capable of being delivered in loose and measured quantities.

In its general organization the vending-ma` chine comprises a delivery-compartment common to two bins or hoppers, said deliverycompartment having its bottorninclined to form a chute and having its front side closed by means of a slide, which normally holds the goods in check and which when moved permits the goods to automatically discharge by gravitative force. The measure, cup, or receptacle for delivering the goods in determinate quantity is slidably mounted andwhen depressed receives a charge of thegoods to be vended and when elevated automatically delivers the same upon an extension of the inclined bottom of the aforementioned deliverycompartment. The measure is held against downward movement by a lock mechanism which must be released preliminary to operation of the machine to effect vendition. The lock mechanism within the purview of the invention may be actuated by any determinate means and for convenience is illustrated for cooperation with a coin of determinate valuel deposited in a slot and directed by means of a chute or way to proper position for conjoint operation with the lock mechanism to edect a releaseof the vending mechanism.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for edecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached. Y

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modifcation, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a vending-- machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the machine. Fig. i 3 is a perspective view of the measure, cup, or' receptacle. Fig. 4 is a perspective view ot the shoe provided at the delivery end of the coin chute or way. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectionl on the line X X of Fig. k2.` Fig. 6. is a hori Zontal section on the line YYof Fig. 2, Fig. 7 is avvertical section on the line Z Z of Fig. 6 of the intermediate portion of the machine, showing the parts on a larger scale. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line WW oi' Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a detail view of a modiiied form of coin-chute for ejecting a spurious coin, slug, or analogous device used in an attempt to defraud the machine. Fig. 10 is a top plan view oi the coin-chute shown in Fig. 9. i l

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. i

The cabinet or casing for inclosing the working parts is indicated at 1 and may be of any construction or design, according to the caprice of the constructor and the special iinish of the machine. Any number of bins or hoppers 2 may be provided at the upper end of the cabinet for receiving the v,goods to be vended, the bottom of said hopper or bin sloping so as to directthe commodity to a com- SO mon point of discharge. A measure 3 is mountedto slide vertically through the bottom of the bin or hopper and is directed in its movements by suitable guides. The measure may be of any construction adapted to rc1 8 5 ceive the goods at the top and to discharge the same laterally. Aknobli or like operating de-V vice is connected with the measure 3 by means of a rod or bar 5, which is arranged to operate in a vertical slot 6, formed in the `front of the casing. A spring 7 cooperates with the measure'to normally hold the same elevated, the upward movement being limited by the rod or bar 5 coming in contact with the upper closed end of the slot 6. The bin or hopper 2 95 is subdivided bya partition 8, so as to form a space or chamber 9, into which a small pro-l portion only of the goods is received, therebyl offering a minimum amount of resistance to the upward movement of the measure or cup, which in its ascent must pass therethrough. The edge of the partition 8 is a short distance above the bottom of the bin or hopper. Hence the goods passing into the chamber 9 beneath4 the partition 8 practically maintains a uniform level, which is below the plane of the upper end of the measure or cup 3, this being necessary in order to guard against delivery of more goods than the measure or cup will contain at any one time. descends, its upper end passes below the level of the goods in the chamber 9 and is filled by said goods passing therein. As the measure rises and its upper end passes above the level of the goods in the chamber 9 the side opening 10 of the measure registers with an opening 11 in the inner side of the chamber 9, es-

tablishing communication between said chamber and the delivery-compartment, thereby permitting the discharge of the goods from the measure or cup into the delivery-compartment 12 upon the inclined bottom or chute 13 thereof.

' The delivery-compartmenty 12 has a portion located within the casing or cabinet and a portion exterior thereto.` the two parts' being in communication through an opening 14 in the frontl wall or side of the cabinet. A cut-olf or slide 15 closes the outer side of the deliverycompartment, and in order to admit of inspection ofthe goods the front plate of the slide or cut-off is of glass. A knob or button 16 is applied to the slide or cut-off for convenience of operation, and when said slide is moved upward the goods contained in said compartment 12 automatically discharge and may be received in the hand or in any convenient and determinate way.

, A lock rod or bar 17 is connected with the measure or cup 3 and is movable therewith and is provided with a series of notches 18 for coperation with one end of a latch 19 to normally lhold the measure against downward movement, so as to receive a supply of goods preliminary to effecting vendition thereof.

The latch 19 is pivoted near one end to a bracket or support 2O and is pressed upward at its rear end by means of a spring 21,wliereby its outer end 22, which normally inclines upward and forward. is held in engagement with the lock-bar, so as to attain the desired v end. The rearportion of the ylatch 19 normally occupies an approximately horizontal position, and its rear end is notched to provide clearance for the hooked or bent end 23 of a rod 24, attached at its lower end to a bar 25, connected to the measure 3, so as to move therewith. The hooked or bent end 23 normally occupies a position above the plane of the notched end of the latch 19 to admit of the coin 26 passing beneath the part 23 and lodging upon the rear notched end of the latch 19, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2. The

When the measure measure 3 and lock-bar 17 have sufficient vertical play to admit of depressing the rod 24 a distance to bring its bent end 23 in contact with the coin 26, so as to depress the rear end of the latch 19 and withdraw its front end from engagement with the lock-bar, wherebyv the measure may move downward to the limit of itstravel, so as to receiveasupply of goods tobe delivered upon the ascent or return of the measure to a normal position.

The coin chute or way 27 connects at its upper end with the coin-slot 28 in the front of the cabinet 1 and curves or inclines rearward and downward and connects with a shoe 29, by means of which the coin 26,near the end of its travel, is directed upon the rear end of the latch 19, which extends into the horizontal portion of the shoe. The shoe 29 is approximately of elbow form, and its lower or rear wall is curved and positioned with reference to the chute 27 and latch 19 to direct the coin 26 upon the latter, the forward movement of,

and illustrated has the goods to be vended sup-V plied to the hopper or hoppers 2, and said goods pass through theA chamber 9 beneath the lower edge of the partition 8. Vendition of a quantity of the goods is effected by depressing the measure 3 to the limit of its downward movement, so as to carry its upper end below the level of the goods received in the chamber 9 when a portion of the goods passes over the sides of the measure into the latter, and upon the ascent of the measure and registry of the openings 10 and 11 the goods automatically pass from the measure into the delivery-compartment 12 and are discharged therefrom by moving the slide or cut-olf 15 upward. Preliminary to downward movement of the measure it is irstnecessary to release the lockmechanism,which is accomplished by depressing the rear end of the latch 19, so as to withdraw its front end from engagement with the lock-bar 17. While this result may be effected in a variety of ways,it is preferred to devise the means illustrated, so that the prospective purchaser may by depositing the prescribed coin into the coin-slot 28 automatically release the lock mechanism simultaneously with depressing the measure or receptacle 3 in the manner hereinbefore stated.

In the modified form of coin-chute shown in Figs. 9 and 1() a delivery-opening 30 'is provided in the upper side near the shoe 29, and a spring 31 extends from the coin-chute 28 to the delivery-opening 30, so as to direct a light coin or other article through said opening and prevent operation of the machine by IOO IIO

a coin other than that determined upon to effect a release of the delivery mechanism.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is- 1. In a vending-machine, the combination of a bin having a portion separated therefrom by means of a partition to form a chamber for containing a small proportion of the goods, a

measure adapted to operate in the chamber or separated portion of said hopperand open at the top for receiving a supply of the goods and having an opening in the side for auto matic delivery, and actuating means for said measure, substantially as set forth.

2. In a vending-machine, the combination of a bin having a portion separated therefrom by means of a partition to form a chamber for containing a small proportion ofthe goods, a measure adapted to operate in the chamber or .separated portion of said hopper and open at the top for receiving a supply of the goods and having an opening in the side for automatic delivery, adelivery-compartment adapted to receive the goods from the measure, and a cut-off for controlling the discharge of the goods from said delivery-compartment, substantially as specified.

3. In a vending-machine, the combination of a casing, ahopper arranged Within the casing and subdivided by a partition to form a chamber for reception of a small proportion of the goods to be vended, a measure mounted for reciprocal movement Within the said chamber and adapted to receive the goods at its upper end and to discharge the same laterally, a delivery-compartment having a portion located within the said casing and a portion exterior thereto and adapted to receive the goods from said measure, and a cut-off for closing'the discharge of said delivery-compartment, substantially as set forth 4. In combination, a casing, a hopper within the casing and subdivided by a partition to form a chamber adapted to receive a small proportion of the goods to be vended, a measure mounted for vertical movement `Within said chamber and having its upper end and one side open, a delivery-compartment having a portion located Within said casing and a portion exterior thereto, the parts of the delivery-compartment being in communication through an opening in aside of the casing, the inner portion of said delivery-compartment being in communication With the chamber or partition portion of the aforementioned hopper so as to receivethe goods from the measure,and a cut-oif for closing the dischargeopening of the delivery-compartment, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN P. BEARDSLEE. [1.. s] 

